Nowadays, tourism has grown into one of the largest industries worldwide being one of the major sources for income and jobs. There is barely a place left untouched by its forces and with the...Show moreNowadays, tourism has grown into one of the largest industries worldwide being one of the major sources for income and jobs. There is barely a place left untouched by its forces and with the prospects of increasing wealth, free time, and accessibility of travelling opportu-nities, predictions for the future tell us that the visitor economy will remain to grow in the coming years as well. Although it brings many opportunities for destinations, it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Discussions regarding tourism are on the rise, as negative effects from tourism are experienced more often. Heritage forms an integral part within this debate since it is a major pull effect for tourists to travel to a destination in the first place. Assuming that heritage does not possess any intrinsic qualities, but is constructed by the use and experience of heritage by people, this means that tourism has the force to transform heritage as well, as tourism is a specific way in which heritage is experienced and interacted with. At the root of these experiences and practices, stands a given heritage discourse and the value system that constructs it. It is, therefore, necessary to examine how the discourse of heritage is constructed, how this causes how people interact with heritage via tourism, and what this tells us how people value heritage in a given context.Because of the discrepancies that tourism creates, I examine possible solutions for these issues by using a sustainability lens, and to evaluate if a sustainable approach can contribute to a healthier tourism management. In addition, I explore how heritage discourse plays into this process, and how it can contribute to sustainable outcomes, both in tourism and heritage management. With this premise in mind, I have taken Amsterdam as case study, as it is one of the major contemporary tourist destinations in the world in which discussions regarding tourism have taken a prominent position in the public discourse. I have looked at a top-down approach, put out by the municipality of Amsterdam named Stad in Balans, in which they have formulated their management strategy for tourism for the coming years. In addition, I have studied a bottom-up initiative called The Untourist Guide to Amsterdam, which is a recently founded movement inspired by practices of crea-tive tourism. By looking at both models, an overview will be given on how sustainability can play a part in tourism and its interaction with heritage, and how the discourse of herit-age can add to the sustainability in how it favors certain values and excludes others.Show less
There are only a few other things in this world that can bring as much wonder and amazement to our way of life than tourism. Not only can tourism broaden the perspective of travellers, but it also...Show moreThere are only a few other things in this world that can bring as much wonder and amazement to our way of life than tourism. Not only can tourism broaden the perspective of travellers, but it also helps contribute to the economy of many countries that may otherwise struggle in financially tough times. Yet, still, despite all the benefits, travellers, visitors, and tourists (TV&T) do take a toll on our common global heritage. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative type thesis is to uncover certain negative physical and social impacts of tourism on heritage sites around the world and on various ethnic groups and/or Indigenous Peoples. The research for this thesis led to the discovery that heritage sites have been either directly or indirectly negatively impacted by TV&T and/or the greater tourism industry in many ways. The physical impacts were found to be in the forms of TV&T producing vandalising graffiti and erosion caused by their movements, their impact on the microclimate of caves containing ancient wall art, touching or keeping pieces of cultural heritage artefacts and the greater tourism industry initiating the placement of both temporary and permanent forms of construction. It was also discovered that TV&T and/or the greater tourism industry has caused various negative social impacts on the perceived sense of sanctity of various heritage sites and to the Indigenous Peoples living among them in the forms of ‘Naked Tourism’ and overcrowding at Machu Picchu and the city of Venice, Italy. Lastly, an exploration into the social impact of the commodification of Indigenous Peoples by the greater tourism industry led to the realisation that this can and has led to the exploitation of many of these peoples and the change in the significance of many of their cultural materials.Show less
